# 1987–88 Watford F.C. season

The 1987–88 season was Watford's 107th season in existence, and their sixth season in the First Division, following promotion in the 1981–82 season, in which they finished 20th, and were relegated back to the Second Division. Along with the First Division, they competed in the FA Cup and Football League Cup, being eliminated in the sixth round and fourth round respectively.

## Competitions
### First Division
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 17 | Charlton Athletic | 40 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 38 | 52 | −14 | 42 | |
| 18 | Chelsea (R) | 40 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 50 | 68 | −18 | 42 | Qualified for Second Division play-offs |
| 19 | Portsmouth (R) | 40 | 7 | 14 | 19 | 36 | 66 | −30 | 35 | Relegated to Second Division |
| 20 | Watford (R) | 40 | 7 | 11 | 22 | 27 | 51 | −24 | 32 | Relegated to Second Division |
| 21 | Oxford United (R) | 40 | 6 | 13 | 21 | 44 | 80 | −36 | 31 | Relegated to Second Division |

#### Matches

First Division match results :
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 15 August 1987 | Wimbledon | H | 1–0 | Blissett | 15,344 |
| 19 August 1987 | Nottingham Forest | A | 0–1 | | 14,527 |
| 22 August 1987 | Manchester United | A | 0–2 | | 38,582 |
| 29 August 1987 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 1–1 | Porter | 19,073 |
| 5 September 1987 | Norwich City | H | 0–1 | | 11,724 |
| 12 September 1987 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 3–2 | Porter, Sterling, Senior | 16,144 |
| 19 September 1987 | Portsmouth | H | 0–0 | | 13,277 |
| 26 September 1987 | Chelsea | H | 0–3 | | 16,213 |
| 3 October 1987 | Coventry City | A | 0–1 | | 16,111 |
| 17 October 1987 | Southampton | A | 0–1 | | 11,933 |
| 24 October 1987 | Everton | A | 0–2 | | 28,501 |
| 31 October 1987 | West Ham United | H | 1–2 | Allen | 14,427 |
| 7 November 1987 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 0–0 | | 12,101 |
| 14 November 1987 | Charlton Athletic | H | 2–1 | Allen, Roberts | 12,093 |
| 21 November 1987 | Oxford United | A | 1–1 | Blissett | 7,811 |
| 24 November 1987 | Liverpool | A | 0–4 | | 32,396 |
| 28 November 1987 | Arsenal | H | 2–0 | Jackett, Blissett | 19,598 |
| 5 December 1987 | Derby County | A | 1–1 | Hodges | 14,516 |
| 12 December 1987 | Luton Town | H | 0–1 | | 12,152 |
| 26 December 1987 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 1–3 | Sterland (o.g.) | 12,026 |
| 28 December 1987 | Portsmouth | A | 1–1 | Agana | 15,003 |
| 1 January 1988 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 1–2 | Morris | 25,235 |
| 2 January 1988 | Manchester United | H | 0–1 | | 18,038 |
| 16 January 1988 | Wimbledon | A | 2–1 | Sterling, Allen (pen.) | 6,848 |
| 23 January 1988 | Nottingham Forest | H | 0–0 | | 13,158 |
| 6 February 1988 | Norwich City | A | 0–0 | | 13,316 |
| 13 February 1988 | Liverpool | H | 1–4 | Blissett | 23,838 |
| 27 February 1988 | Coventry City | H | 0–1 | | 12,052 |
| 5 March 1988 | Southampton | H | 0–1 | | 11,824 |
| 19 March 1988 | West Ham United | A | 0–1 | | 16,015 |
| 26 March 1988 | Everton | H | 1–2 | Porter | 13,503 |
| 29 March 1988 | Chelsea | A | 1–1 | Rimmer | 11,240 |
| 1 April 1988 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 0–1 | | 16,083 |
| 4 April 1988 | Charlton Athletic | A | 0–1 | | 6,196 |
| 9 April 1988 | Oxford United | H | 3–0 | Holden, Hodges (2) | 10,045 |
| 12 April 1988 | Newcastle United | A | 0–3 | | 16,318 |
| 15 April 1988 | Arsenal | A | 1–0 | Holden | 19,541 |
| 19 April 1988 | Newcastle United | H | 1–1 | Jackett | 12,075 |
| 30 April 1988 | Derby County | H | 1–1 | Roberts | 14,181 |
| 2 May 1988 | Luton Town | A | 1–2 | M. Johnson (o.g.) | 10,409 |

### FA Cup

FA Cup match results :
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| Third round | 9 January 1988 | Hull City | H | 1–1 | Allen | 12,761 |
| Third round replay | 12 January 1988 | Hull City | A | 2–2 (a.e.t.) | Jackett (pen.), Allen | 13,681 |
| Third round, second replay | 18 January 1988 | Hull City | H | 1–0 | Allen | 15,261 |
| Fourth round | 30 January 1988 | Coventry City | A | 1–0 | Senior | 22,479 |
| Fifth round | 20 February 1988 | Port Vale | A | 0–0 | | 22,483 |
| Fifth round replay | 23 February 1988 | Port Vale | H | 2–0 | Senior, Porter | 18,359 |
| Sixth round | 12 March 1988 | Wimbledon | A | 1–2 | Allen | 12,228 |

### League Cup

League Cup match results :
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| Second round, first leg | 22 September 1987 | Darlington | A | 3–0 | Porter, Senior, Gibbs | 5,005 |
| Second round, second leg | 6 October 1987 | Darlington | H | 8–0 | Terry, Roberts, Hetherston (2), Hodges, Agana, Gibbs, Blissett | 8,186 |
| Third round | 28 October 1987 | Swindon Town | A | 1–1 | Agana | 13,833 |
| Third round replay | 3 November 1987 | Swindon Town | H | 4–2 | Morris, Porter, Hodges, Allen | 13,378 |
| Fourth round | 17 November 1987 | Manchester City | A | 1–3 | Allen | 20,357 |

### Full Members' Cup

Full Members' Cup match results :
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| Third round | 25 January 1988 | Ipswich Town | A | 2–5 | Atkins (o.g.), Senior | 7,466 |